YOU CAN’T FOOL YOUR WIFE

May 21, 1940

• Director: Ray McCarey

• Producer: Lee S. Marcus and Cliff Reid for RKO Radio Pictures
• Writers: Jerome Cady, based on a story by Richard Carroll and Ray McCarey

Synopsis ~ Feeling neglected by her husband Andrew (James Ellison), drab housewife Clara Hinklin (Lucille Ball) walks out on him, much to the delight of her busybody mother-in-law (Emma Dunn). Realizing that she’s still in love with her husband, Clara undergoes a glamour treatment, re-emerging in the guise of Latin American charmer Mercedes Vasquez. Reunited with her husband at a masquerade party, Clara tries to win him back by continuing her pose as the alluring Mercedes. Does Andrew fall back in love with Clara, or is he merely smitten by her seductive alter ego?

CAST

Lucille Ball (Clara Fields Hinklin / Mercedes Vasquez) makes her 49th film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. 

James Ellison (Andrew ‘Hinkie’ Hinklin) appeared with Lucille Ball in Next Time I Marry (1938) and Best Foot Forward (1943). 

Robert Coote (‘Batty’ Battincourt) appeared with Lucille Ball in Lured (1947). He was best know for playing Colonel Pickering in the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. 

William Halligan (J.R. Gillespie, Sr.) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). 

Emma Dunn (Mother Fields) appeared with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). 

Virginia Vale (Sally) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Rosina Galli (Mama Brentoni) was an Italian-born actress making her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rosina Galli replaced Ferike Boros in the role when a scheduling conflict prevented Boros from appearing in the film.

Charles Lane (Salesman) appeared in six other films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1949: The Bowery (1933), Broadway Through a Keyhole (1933), Broadway Bill (1934), Joy of Living (1938), Look Who’s Laughing (1941), and Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). On “I Love Lucy,” Lane later went on to create memorable characters like Mr. Hickox in “The Business Manager” (ILL S4;E1) as well as the clock-watching passport office clerk in “Staten Island Ferry” (ILL S5;E12). He made a total of four appearances on “I Love Lucy” and two more on “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.” In 1962, Lucille Ball cast him as banker Barnsdahl in the first season of “The Lucy Show.” He died at the ripe old age of 102.

Oscar O’Shea (Dr. Emery, Colony College Chaplain) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Norman Mayes (Porter at Dock) is making his only screen appearance with Lucille ball. 

Patsy O’Byrne (Hotel Maid) appears with Lucille Ball in 1949′s Sorrowful Jones. 

Charlie Hall (Ritz Amsterdam Bellboy) appeared with Lucille Ball in Kid Millions (1934), Top Hat (1935), Five Came Back (1939), The Big Street (1942), and Seven Days’ Leave (1942). 

Dell Henderson (Ritz Amsterdam Manager) appeared with Lucille Ball in Bottoms Up (1934), Look Who’s Laughing (1941), Du Barry Was A Lady (1943), Meet the People (1944), and Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945).  

Minerva Urecal (Mrs. Doolittle) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Dark Corner (1946). 

Leo Cleary (Mr. Doolittle) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). 

Harrison Greene (Sullivan, the House Detective) makes his final appearance with Lucille Ball after being in Kid Millions (1934), Broadway Bill (1934), Foolish Hearts (1935), and The Farmer in the Dell (1936). 

Max Wagner (Burglar) appeared with Lucille Ball in Chatterbox (1936), Follow the Fleet (1936), There Goes My Girl (1937), Stage Door (1937), Room Service (1938), and Seven Days Leave (1942). 

Hobart Cavanaugh (Potts, GBG & P Vice President) makes his final appearance with Lucille Ball after being in Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933), Moulin Rouge (1934), and That’s Right – You’re Wrong (1939). 

Walter Sande (Mr. Gillespie, Jr.) also appeared with Lucille Ball in A Woman of Distinction (1950). 

Walter Fenner (Walker) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Irving Bacon (Lippincott, GBG & P Clerk)  was in six other films with Lucille Ball: The Bowery (1933), Broadway Bill (1934), I’ll Love You Always (1935), There Goes My Girl (1937),  A Girl, a Guy and a Gob (1941), and Look Who’s Laughing (1941). He appeared in three Best Picture Oscar winners: It Happened One Night (1934), You Can’t Take It With You (1938), and Gone With The Wind (1939).  On “I Love Lucy” he appeared as Mr. Willoughby in “The Marriage License” (ILL S1;E26) and played Ethel’s father Will Potter in “Ethel’s Hometown” (ILL S4;E16).  

Elaine Shepard (Peggy) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Ziegfeld Follies (1945).

Ronald R. Rondell (Battincourt’s Friend at Party) appeared in six other films with Lucille Ball between 1934 and 1942.  

Mike Tellegen (Henchman) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Roberta (1935). 

‘YOU CAN’T FOOL’ TRIVIA

John Farrow (Mia’s father) briefly took over direction during the shoot when director McCarey fell ill. Farrow had directed Ball in 1939′s Five Came Back. 

Some scenes were shot on location at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA in  Westwood, Los Angeles. Later in her career Lucille Ball lectured at UCLA on the subject of comedy and her career. 

You Can’t Fool Your Wife was generally considered a ‘B’ picture and for the most part was the second feature on a double bill.  The New York Daily News gave the film two and a half (out of five) stars. 

The working title of this film was "The Romantic Mr. Hinklin”. It was based on an original story of the same name by Richard Carroll and Ray McCarey.

The Danish movie poster. 

The idea of a wife disguising herself to woo her husband was later explored on “I Love Lucy” in “The Black Wig” (ILL S3;E26) aired on April 19, 1954.

The Des Moines (IA) Register

There was a silent film, also titled You Can’t Fool Your Wife, which is now considered lost. It is not related to the 1940 film.